Printed wiring board mounted electronic component

ABSTRACT

A printed wiring board is mounted with an electronic component which is provided with grooves at the opposite sides thereof. The grooves are constructed so that the electronic component can be mounted on the printed wiring board in either the vertical or horizontal directions. Preferably, the grooves have a cross-shaped configuration, one extending vertically and one extending horizontally. The grooves may be formed on tongue pieces projecting from the electronic component body. The groove may be provided with a resilient piece. Another groove may be provided on the body so as to be capable of changing the direction of terminals.

This application is a continuation of copending application Ser. No.07/134,082, filed on Dec. 17, 1987 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,325 issued8/29/89.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic component such as aswitch, a connector, etc, and more particularly to improvements in anelectronic component which is mounted on a printed wiring board.

There have been proposed many types of electronic components such as aswitch, a connector, etc., which are to be mounted on a printed wiringboard. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing examples of conventionalswitches of such a type. In FIG. 13, a switch generally designated by awhich is exclusively provided for vertical use is mounted on a printedwiring board in a vertical direction, and a switch generally designatedby b which is exclusively provided for horizontal use is mounted on aprinted wiring board in a horizontal direction. The switch a comprises aswitch body 11, a sleeve 12 attached to the body 11 at the top portionthereof and a switch lever 13 pivotally mounted within the sleeve 12.The body 11 is provided with a bracket 25 which covers the body 11. Thebracket 25 has a plurality of downwardly extending pawl pieces 25a whichare inserted into apertures 15c formed on a printed wiring board 15 andfrictionally held therein. Furthermore terminals 16 of the switch a areinserted in the apertures 15c and provide electric connections. Thus,switch a is for vertically exclusive use so that the lever 13 is locatedabove the body 11 when the switch a is mounted on the board 15. Theswitch b comprises a body 11, a sleeve 12 and a lever 13 similar to theswitch a. However, in the case of the switch b, a metal mounting 24 isattached between the body 11 and the sleeve juxtaposed with each other.A plurality of pawl pieces 24a extend downward from the metal mounting24 and are inserted into the apertures 15c of the board 15 to befrictionally held therein. Thus, the switch b is for exclusivehorizontal use so that the lever 13 is located at the side of the body11 when the switch b is mounted on the board 15.

Furthermore, as an example of a conventional switch, there has beenproposed a structure in which a board is formed with a cut-out and anelectronic component is attached to the cut-out portion. This structureis disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Nos. 155774/1984 and207515/1984 and the Japanese Utility Model Application No. 189556/1984,which all pertain to the same applicant as that of the presentapplication.

However, the electronic components including central instruments of theabove-mentioned prior art were for exclusive vertical or horizontal useand there is no electronic component which can be mounted on a board-ineither the vertical or horizontal direction, if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novelelectronic component which can be optionally mounted on a printed wiringboard in either the vertical or horizontal direction, if desired.

In order to accomplish the foregoing object, the printed wiring boardmounted electronic component according to the present invention has afeatured construction wherein the electronic component body is providedat opposite thereof ends with a cross-shaped groove or hole whichextends horizontally and vertically and by utilizing the cross-shapedgroove, the electronic component is insertable into the cut-out of theprinted wiring board either in a horizontal direction or in a verticaldirection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a printed wiringboard mounted electronic component according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing a manner inwhich an electronic component is mounted on a board in a directiondifferent from that of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a main portion of the electronic componentof FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a main portion of the electronic componentof a second embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a main portion of an electronic componentof a third embodiment,

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a fourth embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the fourth embodiment,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a sixth embodiment,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a main portion of the sixthembodiment as viewed in an angle different from that of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the sixth embodiment,

FIG. 12 is a side view similar to the FIG. 11, and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing switches of prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail by referring tothe embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing.

Firstly, reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 3. Reference numeral 11designates a switch body, embodying the invention. The body 11 isprovided at the upper portion thereof (FIG. 2) with a sleeve 12 in whicha switch lever 13 is pivotally mounted. The sleeve 12 is provided insidethereof with a switching mechanism, not shown, operable to be switchedby the lever 13.

The switch body 11 is formed at the opposite ends with a cross-shapedgroove 14 extending in vertical and horizontal directions. FIG. 1 showsthat the body 11 is mounted to a printed wiring board 15 at the cut-out15a thereof in such a manner that the body 11 is laid relative to theboard 15 and FIG. 2 shows that the body 11 is mounted to the board 15 insuch a manner that the body 11 stands relative to the board 15.

Furthermore, a reference numeral 15b designates a copper foil which isbrought into engagement with the terminal 16 (FIG. 3) when the body 11is mounted to the board 15.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a main portion of a second embodiment. Inthe second embodiment, the switch body 11 is adapted to be mounted onboards having different thicknesses. More particularly, the groove 14 ofthe body 11 is formed with stepped portions 14a, 14a, and therefore thebody 11 can be mounted on boards of two different thicknesses (i.e. twotypes of board of different thicknesses A and B in this embodiment).

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a main portion of a third embodiment. Inthe third embodiment, the body 11 is adapted to be mounted at the endportion or bottom portion thereof on the board 15 without cut-outs. Thebody 11 is formed at the bottom portion thereof with a groove 17 whichcommunicates with the lower portions of the opposite cross-shapedgrooves 14. The body 11 is mounted on the board 15 by engaging thegroove 17 of the body 11 with the end portion of the board 15. Although,as seen in FIG. 5 the body 11 is mounted on the board in such a mannerthat the body is laid relative to the board, in the case where the body11 is intended to be mounted on the board vertically, a groove is formedon one or opposite sides of the body instead of the groove 17.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are a front and a perspective views showing a fourthembodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the body11 is provided at the opposite sides thereof with tongue pieces 18extending downward from the upper portions of the body 11, and eachtongue is formed with a cross-shaped groove or hole 19 extendingvertically and horizontally. It is preferred that the tongue piece 18 ismade of a material having a slight resiliency. Furthermore, when thetongue pieces are constructed so that the center portions of tonguepieces are convex as seen in FIG. 6, the body 11 is capable of beingmounted on the board either in vertical or horizontal direction. In theswitch of the embodiment, the switch body 11 can be mounted to thecut-out formed on the board as well as the opening formed at any portionof the board 15.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, if stepped portions, not shown, areconveniently formed in the grooves 19, the body 11 can be mounted on theboards of different thicknesses or can be adjustably mounted and fixedon the board at any suitable height in the board in accordance with thethickness of board.

Furthermore, although the tongue piece 18 extends from the upperportions of the body 11, as an alternative, the tongue pieces can beformed so as to extend from the lower portions of the body.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, a resilient piece 20 is provided withinthe cross-shaped groove 14 as in the first through third embodimentsshown in FIGS. 1 through 5. The resilient piece provides a resilientaction on the body 11 which is inserted vertically or horizontally. Withthis construction, the body is rigidly fixed on the board.

FIGS. 9 to 12 show a sixth embodiment according to the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the invention is applied to a connector(a female connector). In FIGS. 9 to 12, reference numerals 21 to 24designate a connector body, a terminal, a resilient contact plate and agroove 24, respectively More particularly, the connector body 21 isformed at the opposite sides thereof with cross-shaped grooves 14extending in vertical and horizontal directions. A resilient piece 20 isprovided within each groove 14. The connector body 21 is mounted on theprinted wiring body 15 by inserting the body into the cut-out 15a of theboard 15 in a manner similar to that of the above-mentioned switch body.At this time, the resilient piece 20 functions to rigidly fix theconnector body 21 to the board 15. FIG. 11 shows that the connector body21 is laterally or horizontally mounted to the board 15. In this case, amale connector, not shown, is connected to the female connector from asidewise direction as shown by an arrow. When the connector body ismounted to the board so that the body stands relative to the board asshown in FIG. 12, the directions of the terminals 22 are changed withinthe grooves 24. In this case, the male connector is connected to thefemale connector 21 mounted to the board from the upper side as shown byan arrow.

Furthermore, the resilient piece 20 may be made integrally with theconnector body instead of an individual metal plate.

Furthermore, although the groove 14 has been explained to becross-shaped, it is not limited to that configuration and it may be ofany shape so that the electronic component can be mounted on the boardin either a vertical or horizontal directions.

Although the present invention has been explained with respect to thetoggle switch and the connector, it also can be applied to electroniccomponents such as a slide switch, a corrugated switch, a relay, etc.

The present invention is constructed as mentioned above and thefollowing advantages are obtained in accordance with the presentinvention:

(1) By providing the cross-shaped groove extending vertically andhorizontally on the opposite sides of the body, an electronic componentcan be mounted on the printed wiring board in either a vertical orhorizontal directions, if desired.

(2) Since the grooves of the body can engage with the cut-out of aboard, there is no necessity for utilizing conventional special brackets(mounting metals). Furthermore the body can be rigidly mounted on theboard.

(3) Since the body is inserted into the cut-out of a board so as toaccommodate the thickness of the board, the space can be made small.

(4) By providing stepped portions within the grooves or holes of thebody, the body can be mounted on a board of different thicknesses.

(5) Since the body can be easily mounted on the board by grooves orholes provided on the opposite sides of the body, no offset is generatedbetween the pattern of the board and the terminals of the switch duringa soldering operation in subsequent steps.

What we claim is:
 1. A printed wiring board mounted with at least oneelectronic component,said printed wiring board having cut out portions,and said electronic component having a generally rectangular shape withcross-shaped grooves formed on the opposite side portions thereof, eachcross-shaped groove including a first groove portion and a second grooveportion disposed perpendicular to each other, a resilient memberprovided within at least one of the cross-shaped grooves, whereby saidelectronic component can be mounted on said wiring board in a firstdirection relative to said wiring board by engaging said first grooveportions with the opposite side walls of the cut out portion of theprinted wiring board, or in a second direction perpendicular to saidfirst direction by engaging said second groove portions with saidopposite side walls of said cut out portion of the printed wiring board.2. The printed wiring board of claim 1 wherein the electronic componentis a switch.
 3. The printed wiring board of claim 1 wherein steppedportions are provided within both groove portions of each of saidcross-shaped grooves.
 4. The printed wiring board of claim 1 wherein astraight groove is formed on the bottom portion of said electroniccomponent so that it is adapted to engage an end portion of the printedwiring board.
 5. An electronic component adapted to be mounted within acut-out portion of a printed wiring board,said electronic componenthaving a generally rectangular shape with cross-shaped grooves formed onthe opposite side portions thereof, each cross-shaped groove including afirst groove portion and a second groove portion disposed perpendicularto each other, a resilient member provided within at least one of thecross-shaped grooves, whereby said electronic component can be mountedon said printed wiring board in a first direction relative to saidwiring board by engaging said first groove portions with the oppositeside walls of the cut out portion of the printed wiring board, or in asecond direction perpendicular to said first direction by engaging saidsecond groove portions with said opposite side walls of said cut outportion of the printed wiring board.
 6. A printed wiring board mountedwith at least one electronic component,said printed wiring board havingcut out portions, and said electronic component having a generallyrectangular shape with cross-shaped grooves formed on the opposite sideportions thereof, each cross-shaped groove including a first grooveportion and a second groove portion disposed perpendicular to eachother, a first group of terminals provided to project parallel to saidfirst groove portion of said cross-shaped groove, and a second group ofterminals provided to project parallel to said second groove portion ofsaid cross-shaped groove, whereby said electronic component can bemounted on said wiring board in a first direction relative to saidwiring board by engaging said first groove portions with the oppositeside walls of the cut out portion of the printed wiring board, or in asecond direction perpendicular to said first direction by engaging saidsecond groove portions with said opposite side walls of said cut outportion of the printed wiring board.
 7. The printed wiring board ofclaim 6, wherein a resilient member is provided within at least one ofthe cross-shaped grooves.
 8. The printed wiring board of claim 6,wherein stepped portions are provided within both groove portions ofeach of said cross-shaped grooves.
 9. The printed wiring board of claim6, wherein a straight groove is formed on the bottom portion of saidelectronic component so that it is adapted to engage an end portion ofthe printed wiring board.
 10. An electronic component adapted to bemounted within a cut-out portion of a printed wiring board,saidelectronic component having a generally rectangular shape withcross-shaped grooves formed on the opposite side portions thereof, eachcross-shaped groove including a first groove portion and a second grooveportion disposed perpendicular to each other, a first group of terminalsprovided to project parallel to said first groove portion of saidcross-shaped groove, and a second group of terminals provided to projectparallel to said second groove portion of said cross-shaped groove,whereby said electronic component can be mounted on said printed wiringboard in a first direction relative to said wiring board by engagingsaid first groove portions with the opposite side walls of the cut outportion of the printed wiring board, or in a second directionperpendicular to said first direction by engaging said second grooveportions with said opposite side walls of said cut out portion of theprinted wiring board.
 11. The printed wiring board of claim 10, whereinstepped portions are provided within both groove portions of each ofsaid cross-shaped grooves.
 12. The printed wiring board of claim 10,wherein a straight groove is formed on the bottom portion of saidelectronic component so that it is adapted to engage an end portion ofthe printed wiring board.